How, Why and When to use the Spotlight Layout in Google Meet

When in the spotlight layout the only image on the screen that is captured during a Meet recording is the teacher’s webcam and/or the teacher’s presentation as long as other participants in the meeting remain on mute.  Teachers can mute all students thereby keeping the spotlight (video and audio) solely on them.  This is the layout mode that works best when you want to record in Google Meet.

Begin a Google Meet.

Click on the snowman in the lower right corner of the Meet toolbar.

Select Change Layout.

Choose Spotlight.

Tell students that you are about to begin recording and that you would like them all to mute their microphones and remain on mute throughout the recording.

Verify that all students are muted and mute any that are not.

Click on the snowman and choose Record Meeting.

What is captured in the recording if the teacher is using the webcam:

What is captured in the recording if the teacher is presenting their screen: